ENERGY companies and the Government have come under attack from a consumer watchdog amid claims the six biggest firms have enjoyed a £3.3 billion windfall in profits since 2010.

British Gas, E.ON, EDF, npower, Scottish Power and SSE provide energy to 98 per cent of all British households, and Which? has joined with Labour in attacking their huge profits.

The Government has hit back at accusations it is presiding over a "broken" energy market, claiming it pressing the companies to simplify their tariffs.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "With news of multi-million pound profits, and spiralling energy prices consistently one of people's top concerns, it's no surprise that just a quarter of us trust energy companies.

"People will not feel confident that they are getting a fair deal unless energy prices are simplified and the costs that make up our bills are open, transparent and subject to robust scrutiny."

Caroline Flint has accused David Cameron of presiding over a broken energy market

The public have been left with a £3.3 billion price tag for David Cameron's failure to act on rip-off energy bills.

Caroline Flint

Labour's Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary Caroline Flint has accused the Government of failing to reform the energy sector at a time when households have seen a £100 a year increase in their power bills every year for the last three years.

She said: "The public have been left with a £3.3 billion price tag for David Cameron's failure to act on rip-off energy bills.

"He's totally out of touch with millions of people and small businesses who are struggling with soaring energy bills.

"With warnings of more price rises this winter, it's clearer than ever that Britain needs a One Nation Labour government to break the dominance of the energy giants, protect the public from being ripped off and create a tough new energy watchdog with the power to force energy companies to pass on savings to consumers."

Which? has said three quarters of consumers do not trust energy companies

Trade association Energy UK rejected the criticism, and said the companies were guilty of nothing more than trying to stay in profit.

Energy UK's Chief Executive Angela Knight said: “This is a disappointing and inaccurate bashing of an industry which brings heat and light to 27 million homes and business, pays billions each year to the Exchequer and creates employment for over 600,000 people.

"If a company is to stay in business it has to make a profit. And the more a company has to invest then it has to make more profit to do so.

"What is actually needed is a clear, sensible and coherent debate on what people want, how much wind power and how much gas, nuclear and coal is needed, what capacity is required and, critically, how much people are prepared to pay for it all. Petty point scoring has no place in the adult discussion and decision making required.”

Energy Minister Michael Fallon said the Government was doing "all we can" to keep energy bills down,

He said: "We are pressing the big six to make sure that households aren’t stuck on expensive tariffs, to simplify their rates and make it easier to switch.

"In 13 years Labour failed to help consumers get the best deal, presided over huge increases in bills, and left a legacy of underinvestment.

"If Labour think the energy market is broken then it is about time they apologised for breaking it.”